Amanda Kelly reflects on her Owner-Handled Best in Show win at Progressive and shares insights from 40 years of showing Manchesters.
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Amanda Kelly: Thank you so much. It was certainly an exciting moment! It doesn’t matter how long you have been showing or what you may have accomplished, having a dog you love recognized among world-class competition is always a thrill. All of Team Trillé is proud of her and thankful to Mr. Feigelson for awarding her such an honor.
Amanda Kelly: I started showing Toy Manchester Terriers here in Canada almost 40 years ago as a seven-year-old Junior Handler. Showing dogs was a great weekend family activity for my big family, and my sisters and I were quite competitive (mostly with each other!). When I was a teenager, I took an interest in breeding as well. Along with my Mother, Wendy, I was proud to produce many top-winning TMTs around the world under the Fwaggle prefix. Today, I have the honor of working with the most wonderful co-breeders, co-owners, and friends to continue presenting our next generations.
Amanda Kelly: My family’s first Toy Manchester arrived as a surprise gift from my Grandparents. Our ancient Toy Poodle had recently died, so a tiny black and tan soon arrived to save the day. It was three days before anyone knew what breed he was. My sisters and I argued about what to name him (I was 6, so my vote was for Cupcake!), but my father put his foot down and he became Butch. Our second Manchester arrived a few months later. Billy was purchased by my oldest sister from a newspaper advertisement using money she’d saved from babysitting. A neighbor suggested my parents take him to the dog show and the rest is history. As it turned out, both dogs were bred by Elsie Puleo of the iconic Golden Scoops Toy Manchesters via her northern breeding partner—who happened to be my Grandparents’ neighbor and dentist.
Amanda Kelly: I have always enjoyed training dogs. Watching young puppies learn and seeing them have fun in the ring makes my heart happy. That process also creates a special bond. My greatest show dogs have always been, first and foremost, great friends and partners. In Trillé’s case, our partnership is just beginning. Although she has already had a very successful career in Europe and won the US National in December, her Owner-Handled BIS at Progressive marked the very first time I had the pleasure (and challenge!) of showing her myself. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow that relationship as the year progresses. Learning the habits and preferences of a new dog and training new behaviors is one of the joys of showing.
Amanda Kelly: Those of us who started showing as children have an advantage I’m not sure we always appreciate. Much like it is easier to learn a language as a child, we also pick up handling and training skills with ease, and little knowledge as adults of how we came to possess them. At this point, my approach to handling is pretty baked in, but as a trainer I am always learning. Whether it is introducing early development programs like Puppy Culture or trying new confidence-building activities, there is always something new to try. TMTs are usually game for anything that involves food!
Amanda Kelly: Sadly, I’m a one-trick pony. As a breeder, I’m very proud to have produced more than 20 Toy Manchesters titled in Obedience, Agility, Tracking, Flyball, and Nosework. I am in awe of their owners’ hard work and dedication. Maybe one day when I retire I’ll have time to try out some of the new Companion and Performance events the Canadian Kennel Club has been adding in recent years!
Amanda Kelly: Successfully competing always starts with having a beautiful dog that you love. Next, you need to understand the field you are playing on. Don’t try to be as good a trainer, handler, or groomer as the professionals. Aim to be better. With Toy dogs, I think it is particularly important to invest time into training. Your job as an owner-handler is to make a picture that showcases your dog and draws the judge’s eye. This can be particularly difficult when your teeny tiny is in the Best in Show ring surrounded by giants. Having a confident dog able to free-bait and showcase itself will not only make your job as a handler easier, it will also make the whole experience more fun for both you and your dog. There isn’t a dog alive who ever entered itself at the dog show, so it is our job to make sure they have a good time while they are there.
Amanda Kelly: Our win at Progressive was a special one and we’re very proud of it, but no ribbon on earth should change how anyone feels about their dog. We love her dearly no matter what. That said, there is no denying that she is truly a once-in-a-lifetime dog: 11 Bests in Show, including wins at some of Europe’s biggest shows, Championships in eight countries, No. 4 Dog All Breeds in Finland, US National Specialty BOB, and Royal Canin BOV in 2024. Trillé could never be shown again and we would be happy. Her win at Progressive, though, was the start of what we hope will be an exciting year here in Canada. I couldn’t be more lucky or grateful than to own Trillé with Carolyn Horowitz and her breeder, Sari Laitinen. Three friends from Canada, America, and Finland who are excited to present a beautiful TMT. That is what showing dogs is all about.
Amanda Kelly: Thank you so much, Mr. Feigelson, for recognizing Trillé with this honor. It is among the highlights of her career and of mine. We are grateful for your willingness to consider an unconventional choice.
Amanda Kelly: On the showing front, Team Trillé is looking forward to showing her in Canada in 2025, presented by both me and Sydney Robinson, CPHA. We’ll also be attending the World Dog Show in Finland in August, which is always so much fun. On a more personal note, I was recently selected by members of the American Manchester Terrier Club to judge the 2026 National Specialty. This is such an incredible honor and I am looking forward to it with great anticipation.
American Kennel Club (AKC)
Alexis Chism and her GWP, ‘Greta,’ celebrate their 2025 AKC National Championship NOHS Best in Show win and the journey behind it.
